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game all right,
“Wi
HAPPY DAYS.
11
“Strange,” said Dick at last.
understand this.
Either one or the other are old tracks,”
replied Jee. “I’m sure I’m right, but you
go your way and I'll go mine for a short
distance; you can holler in a mannte and
let me know how matters are. We won't
either of us go very far, just to see if one of
the trails don’t e1
They separated, “Dick hurrying to the
right.
‘A dozen yards ahead the rocks took a
turn and the trail followed them around.
Dick pushed on and as he turned around
the ledge a man suddenly sprang out from
a niche in the rocks and caught him by the
throa’
“I can’t
“Now e got you, Dick Fowler!” he
hissed. “Now’s the time for my revenge!”
It was Bill Tweedie. The old ulster
which wore was opened, showing be-
Dick had fallen into bad hands.
[ro BE conTINUED.]
Another new story in No. 288. Title
will be given in next number.
MISSING FROM SCHOOL
(Continued from page 8.)
“Hold on,” whispered Fred. “Great
Scott! There’s a light moving in one of
those buildings now. Upstairs in that long
shop just beyond the foundry—don't you
see?”
“Why, of course, I see. We've treed our
I guess. Come on!”
ait a minute, Let's watch the light
and see where it goes.”
“Come on! Come on!”
“No, wait! Say, it’s moving downstairs
—don’t you see it passing the windows?
There now, it is gone altogether. Say, Ray
it can’t be a watchman? There’s no one
taking charge of the old buildings now.”
“No, no! Hasn't been in my time.”
“I know, but.some concern may have
bought the plant and be getting ready to
start up again.”
“You can figure it that way if you want
‘to, Fred, but I tell you it isn’t so.” Your
light has vanished. ~ Now will you come
on?’
To have held back now would have been
to write himself down a coward, so Fre
n on down the hill after Ray, who had
alzendy startet
hey had covered about halt the distance
when suddenly a strange ing occurred
which was so startling that it brought the
~ boys up with a round
j All at once every window of the upper
story of the old machine shop was ablaze
“with light and both boys distinctly saw
dark figures moving about the large room.
“Ghosts, by gravel” gasped Fred. “Thi
stories they tell about the deserted village
are true after all.”
“Though we had neglected to mention it
yet it is a. fact that for several years these
old deserted buildings on the lakeside had
strange lights were seen flitting from’ room
to. room,
“Nonsense! It can’t be so!” cried Ray,
“but as true as you live there is some one
Why, there’s twenty men
at least. Look, Ray, look! Don't you see
then behind the windows there?”
“Indeed I do! Come on, I'm bound to
and scared and he
bela tack while pee started boldly down
the hi
CHAPTER V.
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS,
Of course Fred could not stay behind
after this.
So hé ran on down the hill after Ray,
coming up with him just as he reached the
foundry yar
By | this time the situation had completely
alter
The lights in the windows of the upper
story of the old machine shop had now en-
tirely disappeared and the deserted vile
had relapsed. into its usual gloomy cuit
ion.
‘All. was dark and “pokerish” and to
think of making a closer investigation was
anything but ‘pleasant,
Ray paused beside the old foundry and
waited for Fred to come vp.
“Say, one of us has got to tackle that
machine shop,” he whispered, “and I’m go-
You'll stand by me, Fred,
“Why, of course. .
"No holding back now. You'll do just
vhat
Count on me, old ma:
“Then come on,” said Ray, poldly. “We
might as well take the bull by the horns as
to muss around its tail. I’m going straight
upstairs into that room, ghosts or no ghosts,
for I am satisfied that it’s the only way we
will ever solve this mystery about Billy
Bird.”
Fred's teeth were chattering. He thought
then that Ray Whitcomb was just about as
brave as “they make ’em,” and he was not
very far from the truth,
Ray walked boldly up to the steep flight.
of steps, which, on the outside of the big
frame building, led up to the second story.
This was a common way of building in
factory architecture in old days out West.
There wasn't a sign of lig! n the win-
dows now nor a sound to be heard except
the dashing of the water of Lake Michigan
against the bulkhead.
Ray ran up the steps and knocked on
the door with as much assurance as if it
had been broad daylight, but his heart was.
n his mouth and he was secretly glad when
Fred caught hold of his coattail, for there
was no denying that he was badly scared.
‘There was no answer at first, so Ray
knocked again and again.
Presently both the boys were startled by
hearing the Sound of heavy footsteps be-
hind the doo
“Sone one 1s coming!" gasped Fre
‘Hush! Kee ool!” Sbispered. Ray.
“Whoever it is be “Gout seem to be in a
urry to open . Ah! ook there!”
Ray pointed to the window, which cpened
on the platform at the top of the steps right
alongside the door.
re was a man’s face at the window.
A aecoueie ugly face, all twisted up into
knots.
It was the giant fast enough. He held up
a lantern close to the pane and stared out
at the boys.
Scott!
What We face!” gasped
It was certainly very wartling.
The door of the upper story of the old
machine shop had not been built to accom-
modate the giant, but there he was behind
it when it flew back. ?
In order to get a good look at the boys
he was obliged to thrust his head and
shoulders out of the door, wane his body
and long limbs remained in
In this queer position, with his face close
to Ray’s, he held up the lantern, throwing
the light full in the faces of the two aston-
ished boys.
“Well! What is it?” he demanded. “What
do you want here at this time of night?”
Ray, by a great effort of mind, managed
to keep his wits about him.
“How are: you, sir!” he said.
Bird in here?’
The giant let the teeth drop down from
his upper jaw and gobbled them up again,
at the same time twisting his face into a
hundred knots.
“Ig Billy Bird in here?” he drawled sar-
castically. ‘What a question to ask a re-
spectable American citizen at this hour of
the night. Young men, go away—go right
away if you know what's good for you. Do
“Is Eilly
you hear.”
“Well, I hear all right, but I am not going
to do it until you answer inst the sam mer"
Not” mused the “Then,
want | to get rid of you T suppose I had’ bet:
ter answer right away.”
“I'm waiting,” sata ay. “I did your er-
rand, but I don’t like the way it turned
out. I'll give | you, ithe question again—is
Billy Bird in hi
Sore ad your question all
ri ‘et chuckled the giant, dropping his
teeth and gobbling them up again. Here's
S Yes, Billy Bird is in here.”
. “Then we want to see bi
“Suppose I say you can’
“Suppose I_ ell oe That I don't leave
ns place till I
jon't be a Co
“ ‘hen don’t you be aggravating. We are
not here to interfere with Billy es business.
We want to speak to him—that’s all.”
“Cheeky!” growled the giant. * Decidedly
cheeky. Still, I suppose the cheapest way
is to humor you. Wait a moment. I'll see
what he says.”
He slammed the door in their faces and
left them standing there in the moonlight.
is footsteps retreating
fake let’s get out of this. want you
inn k I'm afraid, but I don't like that
You’ re not a bie more afraid than I am,”
retorted Ray, “but I don’t go till I’ve seen
Billy Bird and heard what he's got to say.”
made no further remark and the
boys waited for a good ten minutes, but
there was not a sound behind the door,
“He's fooling us!” cried Ray, suddenly.
Jove, Fred, don’t believe -he means
“I’m ready to Rilieve any old thing about
that dime museum freak,” replied Fred,
“but what do you propose to do?”
“Go in an t for ourselves how
the case stands with “Biy Bird.”
“ No,
Let go my vont, Fred Fielding.
born a coward, but I’m going to
make myself a brave man if I die for it.
Let go of me, I sa
Ray caught at the latch, and, to his sur-
prise, found that the giant had not fastened
oor, and, stranger su there stood
the lantern on the floor in
“Come on, Fred,” he cried.
running along the passage.
selzing it and
tt Billy Dird
is in this building I'll blame soon find it
out.
inspired by Ray’s boldness, Fred hurried
"Reaching the end of the passage Ray
threw open another door, which opened
upon a long room with many wifidows—the
room in which the lights had been seen.
was entirely vacant. Nothing to be
seen but a number of old Boxes and plenty
of dust,
1t seemed simply incredible that only a
short while before this very room had been
wane with moving figures and ablaze with
But Ray did not hesitate.
Away over at the other end of the long
room he could see the top of a staircase
leading down to the floor below.
“Come on, Fred!” he cried, and he hur-
ried to the stairs and ran down to the
lower floor, coming against a door which,
upon being opened, brought them into the
yard on the side of the building toward the
e.
“Gee! ok there!” shouted Fred, but
Bay, without answering, dashed on to the
A guod-sized sailboat was just putting off
on the lake,
There were two figures on board, one the
giant, who was handling the sheet ana
tller with no little sk
r was Due ira himself, and
he leaned far over the rail, and, pulling o:
is ca waved it at the boys.
Good-by, Fred!” he shouted. “Good-by,
Say good-by to all the fellows for
me, for you will never see me again.”
The sail filled and the boat stood off
shore. .
Billy Bird sat down beside thé giant and
never even looked around nor paid the
slightest heed to the repeated cries of the
wo astonished boys.
CHAPTER VI.
WILAT ITAPPENED ON THE LAKE.
Ray and Fred hardly knew how they got
back to dormitory No. 10, for every instant
the way it was nothing but specula-
tion about this mysterious affair in which
they had played such a prominent part.
Fred gave Ray a boost and he managed
to climb on top of the fence and to pull his
schooliellow up after him.
‘There was little trouble in pulling them-
selves up to the window, for, truth told, the
‘$s had done ‘this before, for it is not al-
ways safe to assume that a schoolboy is
snug in bed when there is a window and
plenty of bedclothes handy.
nee in the room the two boys kept on
talking about the matter until morning and
then the very first thing they went to Dr.
Whiteside’s apartments and made g@ clean
breast of the affair and were roundly called
Gone. for not having done it before.
ju ought to have c me to me, boys, n
matter what the hour was,” said the doctor,
“T $a very serious matter, I am aston-
ished, W hitecomb, that a boy of your com-
to rescue that unfortunate boy, but now it
is quite too late. Still I shall pass it over,
for I have no doubt you thought you were
acting for the best.”
“T assure
penitently.
sure my father wou!
a detective, an
“Never mind.
you I did, sir,” replied Ray,
“I feel terribly about it, I’m
id be willing to employ
I'll talk with you later.
This is a strange business. Do you know
anything about Billy Bird?”
thing, sir. He would never tell
us where he lived or who his folks were, but
probably you know.”
‘That’s just where you are mistaken,”
replied the doctor. “I know nothing at all.
Billy Bird came here himself and paid tha
money for two years’ tuition in cash. He
told me that he was an orphan and that
for faraily reasons he could not tell me any-
thing about his past history.
me so hard to receive him that I did so, al-
though it is entirely against my usual cus-
om and I must y that he has proved
himself a very excellent boy.
“Not a better fellow in the school, sit, >
cried Ray, warmly, “but there was always
something peculiar about him. Doctor, I’m_
half wild about it. What shall we do?”
“Why, I shall think it over,” replied
Whiteside, “but as a matter of fact, boys,
I don’t see how. I am justified in doing any-
thing. Billy Bird came here of his own ac-
cord and he has evidently gone away be-
cause he wanted to. I am not his keeper
and cannot so constitute myself under the
circumstances. Really, if I knew where
was at the present. moment I question very
gravely if 1 should be justified in forcing
him to rerun to the emy. I see noth-
ing t ut to write after his name in my
roll book, ‘Missing from
And that was the way the matter rested
for the time.
Great was the excitement among Dr.
Whiteside's pupils when the strange events
of the night were made known and Ray
and Fred were called upon to tell their
story again and again.
As 800
there was a grand stampede for the deserted
village, and the ruinous old buildings were
thoroughly ransacked.
He begged
mas the day’s session was over |
|
Ray and Fred went with the rest, for
they had a double motive in exploring the
old machine shop by daylight.
Ni word had they said about the
strange light and moving figures, though.
they mutually agreed to keep to
themselves, for both had pretty much come
to the conclusion that they must have been
mistaken and that what they thought they
saw was
neither one believed it himself
mention as a strict secret that Ray and
Fred let themselves out of the dormitory
window the very next night and went down
to the deserted village again in hopes that
the ghostly exhibition might be repeated,
y had their labor for their
pain:
So the days passed and the strange dis-
appearance of Billy Bird still remained a
mystery.
Dr. Whiteside, at his own expense, put a
private detective on the case, but with no
better result than spending a considerable
suin of mone: 0 purpose whatever, so at
last the matter was allowed to drop, and
aiter Billy Bird's name on the roll book
was written in great black letters:
Misstxe From Scuoo..
The days came and went and whe time
for the great canoe race drew ne
One Saturday early in May it “ras deter-
mined to put in a few hours’ practice on
the lake, so the big wagon belonging to
the school was hitched up and four of the
canoes, those belonging to Ray, Fred and
the two next best canoeists, who who were
ioe Tyler and Eddie Blake, went down to
the lake.
Joe Quigley was now ruled out of the
race, much to the disgust of the conceited
fellow,
But Joe had learned a lesson by his acci- :
dent. He wanted to be popular, so he pub-
licly thanked Ray for saving his life and
landing, a little below the deserted village.
$ a beautiful day and the young
canoeists soon got started in good shaps.
The run was to be for about a mile Might
out into the lake and then to beat back to
rown’s Landing.
The outrun was performed successfully,
but the beating back part did not work, for,
as it happened, the wind shifted so that all
they could do was to sail before it on the
home run.
had been in the lead going out and
Fred sccond, and the canoes soon assumed
the same order going
Ray's dainty little craft went skimming
ore the water almost as fast as the wind
sae
s he neared the shore he saw Joe Quig-
ee just butting out in the Water Witch,
usual, Joe was a day behind the fair,
He had had trouble getting started and he
was in trouble now, for he had some wild
notion in his head that he understood man-
aging a boat and could sail against the
wind without tacking, but he soon foun
out his error aud when Ray came flying up
there was Joe with his sail flapping and
three screaming girls on his ha.
“Lool t, Joe! You'll run
me down!”
shouted hay.
‘Oh, save us, Ray! Save us!
be, drowned!” Carrie James crie
“Port your helm, Joe!” shouted” Ray.
“Port your helm, you fool!”
Joe tried, but the trouble was he “ported”
his helm the wrong way.
Ray changed his course to avoid the col-
lision, which would have been inevitable
if he had maintained it,
As he did so, to his utter amazement, he
saw a boy close beside him in the water
swimming with all his clothes on toward
We ve shall
“Oh, good gracious, Ray ,Sereamed
Olive Moore. “Look, Ray!
“Ray!” yelled Fred, Synose Nanoe was
him. “Oh, Ray! It’s Billy
close behind
ird:”
At the same instant the swimmer uttered
a despairing one threw up his arms an
sank out ors
“Save hi ene cried Mamie Sheldon,
and Sarrie James in one brea'
y was ready.” He needed no urging. ~
Without an instant’s hesitation he tum-
bled overboard into the lake.
[10 BE CONTINUED.]
oe
A builder in Glasgow, having heard that
joiner standing smoking, with his kit un-
opened. Simply asking his name, which
he found to be Malcolm Campbell, he called
him into the office, and, handing him four
days’ pay, told him to leave at once. After
having seen the man clear out of the yard
he went up to the foreman and told him he
had made an example of Malcolm Camp-
bell by paying him off for not starting at
the proper time. “Great Scott!” exclaimed
the foreman, “that chap was only looking
for a job!